2023 Meyers Autotech Championship Series
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Thanks for racing in 2023!
Atomic Cup
R/CU kicks off season 39 in the Tri-Cities
Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Saturday testing album available here.
Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Sunday raceday album available here.
R/CU photo album from Sunday available here.
R/CU YouTube playlist available here.
Scott Meyers (M5 Performance) video available here.
Jason Walters videos of the racing available here.
After a long offseason in the pacific northwest, R/CU returned in early April to a familiar spot: Two Rivers Park in Finley, WA. It was the first race of the 2023 Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered By Rattlesnake RC, and the new season brought new boats and drivers to the field.
We started off the year by celebrating the 2022 season with the annual banquet, the night before the race. Special thanks to Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum Director David Williams and his wife Linda who attended as our guest speaker of the evening, and David gave a great runthrough of his career driving multiple hydroplanes of different eras. You can see photos of the night here, and a full list of all the winners here!
With all of the Saturday fun complete, it was time to get down to business. 58 boats entered across 4 classes to make a highly competitive field. The Atomic Cup is not only the first round of the season, but also the first leg of the Triple Crown so it was important to start the year off on a good note.
1/10th Scale Electric Final
1st: 1976 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney
2nd: 2018 Oberto, Jason Walters
3rd: 1963 Coe-Z-Miss, Aidyn Brandt
4th: 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, KC Andres
5th: 1962 Lumberville, Lexy Brandt
It was a battle of the youngsters vs a few veterans, and this time it was Brooklyn Kinney, in her first ever R/CU race, taking the victory with her new Miss U.S. She piloted skillfully and kept the boat out of trouble, and was rewarded with the traditional celebration of her first win: a quick bath in the (cold) lake!
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1990 Infinity Car Audio, Scott Meyers
2nd: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen
3rd: 1976 Miss U.S., Steven Kinney
DNF: 1964 Miss U.S. V, Derek Pierce
DNS: 1986 Boat, Paxton Reunanen
Scott Meyers took the early lead with the Infinity Car Audio, and while Mike Henriksen gave chase with the Charlie's Girl, he was never able to catch Scott, who advanced to the final.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1990 Infinity Car Audio, Scott Meyers
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
3rd: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt
4th: 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
DNF: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
DNF: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
The Miss Rock entered the race as perhaps the favorite, but ran through the roostertail of the Country Boy going into the first turn and spun out. The Country Boy had the apparent win, but cut or hit a buoy in the left turn and was penalized one lap. Coming up from the trailer position was Scott Meyers and the Infinity Car Audio, who picked off boats one at a time and was awarded the victory when the Country Boy's penalty was realized.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
1st: 2008 Formulaboats.com II, Brady Brackett
2nd: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
3rd: 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean
4th: 1973 Pay'n Pak, Wayne Beeson
DNF: 1983 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin
DNF: 1976 Miss Esquire Products, Bill Brandt
Rich Matkin's Atlas Van Lines took the early lead, but Brady Brackett chased him down after lap one and took the lead in the right turn. Then, with both the Atlas and Bill Brandt's new Miss Esquire Products chasing, Brady held the Formula steady while both the Atlas and Esquire crashed while trying to take the lead. The young racer advanced to the final with KC Andres and the new Miss Technicolor chasing in second.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 2011 Graham Trucking, Rob Brackett
2nd: 2008 Formulaboats.com II (U-7), Brady Brackett
3rd: 1985 Miller American, Don Mock
4th (DNF): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen
5th (DNF): 1989 Winston Eagle, Fred Stock
6th (DNF): 1982 Atlas Van Lines, Marc Connelly
7th (DNS): 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
The Miller American was called for jumping the gun at the start, leading to a 1 lap penalty. On the inside lane it was Rob Brackett driving the Graham Trucking, who built an early lead with the rough water conditions. Paxton gave valiant chase in second, but the Miss Rock blew over at the third lap. Brady Brackett came up from the trailer position to make it a close race with his dad at the finish line, but it was Rob who took the season-opening victory.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
1st: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
2nd: 1981 KWWW, Jim Latimer
3rd (DNF): 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy
4th (DNF): 1974 U-95, John Olson
5th (DNS): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
6th (DNS): 2011 Miss Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
With a strong breeze coming in from the backstretch, the nitro finals would feature some careful driving and carnage. In the connie, it was the U-95 that was called for jumping the gun at the beginning of the race, and he pulled off. The two Miss Circus Circus hulls raced side by side up the backstretch, but Malloy's Circus flipped spectacularly in the wind. That only left two boats, and Geoffry's Circus advanced to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt
2nd: 1976 Miss U.S., Steven Kinney
3rd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
4th (DNF): 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
5th (DNF): 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
6th (DNF): 1977 Squire, Kirk Maupin
7th (DNS): 1974 Red Man, Paul Jackson
In the first turn, the Squire lost its lane and overturned on a roostertail. That put R/CU's winningest driver in the lead, and he never relinquished it. Dave Brandt took him another victory, although Fred Olson's Pak was giving chase in close second before flipping on the last lap. Steven Kinney capped an impressive day with the Miss U.S. to finish second, with Geoffry rounding out the podium.
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April 14-16
Location: Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA
Previous Race Winners:
Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2001-present
Race held in Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA 2000
Current-2020, winners shown as nitro // FE // gas
-2023: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-65) // Rob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking) // Scott Meyers (1990 Infinity Car Audio)
-2022: Fred Olson (1966 Miss Bardahl) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)
-2021: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Bill Brandt (1987 Eliminator) // Dave Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special)
-2020: Race cancelled due to COVID-19
2013-2019, winners shown as nitro // FE
-2019: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II)
-2018: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) // Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2017: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports)
-2016: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports)
-2015: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com)
-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Bob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking)
-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // John Olson (1997 Close Call)
Prior to 2013, only nitro class run
-2012: Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus)
-2011: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)
-2010: David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser)
-2009: David Newton (2008 Spirit of Detroit)
-2008: Scott Meyers (1994 Miss Exide)
-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2006: Dave Blacksten (1998 Llumar Window Film)
-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2003: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2001: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2000: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)